BPD and Disability

I'm not sure of the criteria that qualifies me for disability. Does anybody know where I could look it up?

ssa.gov
I recently applied and was denied, it can take a while so be prepared.

Good place to look as Crzyladee indicates. Hope you find what you need there.

I too was initially denied, resubmitted, and was approved. Many are denied initially. Consider resubmitting. Good luck.

Hi there, when I applied for disability my main diagnosis at the time was BPD (it was later changed to Bipolar). However, I was accepted the first time.

If you end up applying for disability, I hope you are accepted initially. You will be in my thoughts.

I was accepted the first time. I had tried two jobs and was unsuccessful in performing them after a hospitalized psychosis; so one of the criteria they may look at is your job stability and ability to hold down work.
I had been hospitalized after 20 years of work for three weeks with a mania; and the examining psychologist at Social Security explained that the determination would be made on his findings, plus my medical records. So these are three conditions which apparently get looked at in making the determination.

http://www.suite101.com/content/disa...issues-a154032 How to Get Disability Benefits

http://disabilityblogger.blogspot.co...er-social.html

It seems like they are denying a lot of people the first time. Start the process ASAP, so by the time you get approved you will get the retroactive money. I also suggest I lawyer, like Binder & Binder that takes a % so if you lose you dont have to pay anything. And a shrink that realy is on board. I really cant work. I want to but I just cant. i keep trying and Im just kind of pathetic. Maybe someday. Anyway, I had a republican conservative psychologist that just doesnt think anyone should get disability. Go figure. I found someone that isnt letting his political views get in the way of how he views my illness. In fact, he suggested it.

I was also turned down for disability. I filed under my seizures that I have. I worked for 6.5 yrs. then one day I had a bad headache. Fell out and hit my head in front of everyone at work. went to ER. I could no longer drive at that point. Having at least one big seizure a week. turned down twice. Now I have a lawyer.
I was sure that I could file under my BP or BPD???
good luck to those waiting. I was told it will be at least a yr more. But that I would get retro????

oops I mean I didn't know that you can file under BP OR BPD

My interviewer for disability was a 3rd yr psych student. Ka-ching!

I do have a serious back injury too.

I was approved for disability on my first try. I have major depression, borderline, and back problems as well. Never had to have an interview or anything

really, you can get disability for BP and/or BPD?! then I think I should try to get it perhaps, or at least make some inquiries, since I have been diagnosed with both and think that it would be hard for me to find work I could do well at too (since I even suck at being a mom......). Can you still apply even if you are married and your husband has a good job?

The borderline individual functions best in a disciplined environment with consistent support from coworkers and supervisors. These individuals become bored easily, and should avoid jobs requiring repetitious acts, such as working on an assembly line. Due to the irregularity in their sleep-wake cycle, frequent shift changes are to be avoided. Some flexibility in scheduling may be needed to accommodate ongoing therapy (which normally should occur during the employee's personal time).

Source: Medical Disability Advisor

wow i saw this and was amazed...no one ever mentioned to me that possibly my sleep problems could be related to my dx of BPD... my sleep schedule usually includes , sleep an hour awake the same .. all night long most nights !

That all depends on your work history. If you have paid Social Security taxes (FICA on your paycheck) and have worked enough quarters to be eligible, then your husband's income has no bearing on whether or not you get benefits. That's SSDI. If you haven't worked enough quarters, or paid SS taxes (some employers allow you to privatize your SS under certain rules), then you would file for disability under SSI. This is income and asset based and there is a chance that you wouldn't qualify for it, even if you were found to be disabled.

Here's a link to Social Security and an explanation of disability benefits:
http://ssa.gov/pubs/10029.html

It's certainly worth looking into if you don't feel well enough to work on a consistent basis.

Don't really qualify, based on my husband's income - I did try applying. The only way I would at all have an outside chance is if it can be shown I had any mental condition before 2006, since the last time I worked was in 2003. There is the depression I was treated for and counseling I had in 2004, so maybe there's a chance.....but I am not counting on it!

Sorry...I hope something works out with that...

not counting on it.....I think I won't bother trying again ever, unless something drastic happens to our income. I don't see the point, because they will likely say, you make too much. Apparently, you have to be dirt poor to qualify, and then they don't give you enough to really live on anyway. I don't see how it helps to get only 600-700 a month, how can you live decently on that if you can't work and had no other hope of income?!?!?!?!?!? Why isn't the help better than that?

I know...it's ridiculous. It's like they want to make people even more dependent on the system than they already are in that situation. They give you crap SSI and then have to give you housing support, food stamps, etc, etc...when if they just gave people more to live on then they could manage better and maybe even...maybe...start to feel well enough to earn a little on their own, thus helping themselves be self-sufficient.

But that would make too much sense.

Very sad indeed, but true. That whole social security system is confusing and sad.

I seriously worry that the republicans in office are going to push it to stop. Maybe I'm just being paranoid, but the MN government closing down had huge effects on the disabled population. I feel invisible ~ as though most voters would much rather we simply disappear from civilization.

Curious if other disabled people feel the same?

I filed and was approved first try

If you are applying for SSI you usually get turned down, so keep trying

I filled under Schizo and was approved in 4 months from the application date. I had a lawyer from the start that helped me with the application, he also talked with my doctors, and had them write letters.

So it is possible to get approved the 1st time

I appled for social security and got it on my first try. My psychiatrist and therapist wrote letters that were included in the application process

I'm pretty sure it's hard to get disability on the diagnosis alone since a lot of people with BPD hold down jobs.